Life has been calm and quiet for Aran for almost seven years since moving into Banter. She is a prosperous business owner, has friends, and helps those in need without question. Yet a delivery of a mysterious jewel encrusted box changes all of that for her in an instant.

Not only is the mysterious box enchanted, revealing someone knows of her deepest secrets, it imprisons a man unlike any other. Bold, fearsome, strong. A warrior from a place she's never heard of, a land she's never known. And the most glaring fact to his arrival is she is the only one with the knowledge to set him free, with a magic he cannot trust.

Rordan must return to the kingdom of Eglandor to stop the wicked sorceress who has imprisoned him, deliver the throne to King Tah-lel's appointed heir, and fulfill his destiny with the woman from another time, another world. And there's only so much time to do it all with the King's health failing and an uprising from within only waiting for the moment to claim the throne.

EXCERPT

Janel waited, still and silent in the near darkness of the gray predawn hours. Hidden in the depths of the forest’s shadows, his sharp gaze swept constantly over the landscape watching for any sign of discovery. He wrapped his cloak a little closer, ignoring the chill of the early spring night. His horse stood solid, battle trained and steady under his hand, a mere flick of an ear alerting him to an approaching rider. Unexpectedly, an owl flew overhead to settle onto the warped branches of a nearby tree, quieting for the remainder of the nighttime hours. Janel dismissed the night raptor with hardly a thought, comforting his horse when he felt the impatient twitch of hardened muscles beneath him. Janel could sympathize. He was not feeling too patient himself.

Out of the darkness beyond the trees where he could see, a faint bird’s call reached him, then sounded again. Janel answered in kind and felt a swell of relief to know their plans had been successful, or so he hoped.

He slid silently from his saddle to the forest floor, a thick carpeting of leaves of past autumns cushioning his booted step. Janel’s hand poised naturally yet alert on the hilt of his sword until he could discern Quinn’s form in the shadows for himself.

Janel was a warrior, a Captain of his King’s favored guard and tonight, he, Quinn and Loden had undertaken a mission that the very Kingdom was dependent on. Janel had only mere hours to complete his task, once it was set into motion. He was proud he had been granted this opportunity to again prove himself worthy. He had the highest honor any guardsman could hope for"the chance to protect the King and the Kingdom.

Janel lifted a pensive hand to Quinn’s horse’s bridle and asked just one question. “Was Loden successful?”

Quinn, tall and dark, slid from his horse with the grace of his kind. With his answer, Janel felt a flare of hope. “He was. I have the box.”